Canadian Hockey Star to Lace Up Her Skates to Coach Fourth Annual Scotiabank Girls Hockeyfest Winnipeg

WINNIPEG, MB--(Marketwired - December 08, 2014) - Two-time Olympic gold medalist and Amazing Race Canada participant, Meaghan Mikkelson, will be lacing up for the fourth annual Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest Winnipeg. The hockey great will coach over 250 young hockey players on Saturday, December 13, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. at the MTS Iceplex.

"We are looking forward to celebrating Canada's unofficial 5th season, the hockey season, in Winnipeg as we celebrate the fourth annual Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest," said Pam Plaster, Director and District Manager for Roynat Capital. "These young future hockey stars are getting a fantastic opportunity to learn hockey skills from the very best. Meaghan is a great example of how much these girls can achieve through hard work and dedication."

Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest is free to all participants and is open to girls aged 7-12. The day will include on and off-ice training sessions led by some of Hockey Manitoba's elite female hockey players, along with a community outreach component and a keynote address from Meaghan on the importance of being part of a team and how it can help them to reach their goals. The girls will also have the opportunity to have their photo taken with Meaghan.

"It's an exciting time in Canadian women's hockey, with support for the sport continuing to build," said Mikkelson. "I think it is great that Scotiabank is helping support the future of the sport with Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest, where the girls get the chance to come together as a community and celebrate the sport, while learning valuable new skills."

Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest began in Ottawa eleven years ago, and has expanded across Canada to include, in addition to Winnipeg: Vancouver, Calgary, Brandon, Toronto and Ottawa. To register or learn more about the event please visit www.scotiabankgirlshockeyfest.com.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is the Official Bank of the NHL®, NHL Alumni™, CWHL, Vancouver Canucks®, Winnipeg Jets®, Toronto Maple Leafs®, Ottawa Senators®, Edmonton Oilers® and the Calgary Flames® whose home arena is the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Bank also has a partnership with the Montreal Canadiens®. Scotiabank has a long tradition of supporting hockey in Canada from local teams and minor hockey associations to professional players and leagues. Across Canadian communities coast to coast, Scotiabank's Community Hockey Sponsorship Program reaches out to over 5,000 minor hockey teams. To find out more about Scotiabank's hockey programs, please visit us online at http://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/0,,8565,00.html.